Winter Solstice Dates & Times

Solstice literally means 'Sun Stands Still', for a few days around the time of the
winter solstice the sun appears
to stand still in the sky in that its elevation at noon does not seem to change.

The winter solstice date is normally considered to be the 21st of December in the northern hemisphere,
however at the winter solstice the position of the sun remains the same for three days.

The following are the winter solstice mid point dates and times from the
U.S. Naval Observatory.
The time zone used is "Greenwich Mean Time" (GMT) or "Universal Time" (UT).
GMT or UT is time kept on the
Greenwich meridian in London, England at longitude zero.

At Newgrange in Ireland a wonderful event takes place for a
few days around the winter solstice each year, the passage and chamber of
the 5000 year old monument are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise.
A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and
penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts
for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December.

The Winter Solstice sunrise illuminates the passage way leading into the burial
chamber of the megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange on the 21st December
2003. This wonderful photograph by Alan Betson was printed on the
front page of The Irish Times newspaper
on the 22nd December 2003.

Images
from the Winter Solstice at Newgrange on the 22nd December 2002. A rainbow
heightened the experience of those on the outside, as the fortunate few on
the inside, selected by lottery experienced the illumination of the passage
and chamber.

Boyne Valley Tours

Private Tour with pick up and return to your accommodation.
Newgrange World Heritage site, the 10th century High Crosses at Monasterboice,
Hill of Tara the seat of the High Kings, Bective Abbey and Trim Castle
the largest Norman castle in Ireland
More ...